How do you know if a doctor is workable? Interview them. I screen any physician I am thinking of consulting with. Since there may actually be a charge for this “initial consultation,” I carry this out by asking the office manager, nurse or assistant to please relay these three questions to the doctor:First: “I take vitamin supplements. How do you feel about that?”

Second: “I feel that my doctor should work with me, but that I am in charge of my health. Is this compatible with your philosophy of care?”

Third: “I choose to decline immunizations. Are you willing to accept this viewpoint?”If the doctor agrees to all three position statements, you are in business. If not, keep looking. Be prepared to spend some time on this process. It pays off.

2. Not all doctors that openly promote themselves as “holistic,” “alternative” or “complimentary” will be as advertised. Lip-service to a natural philosophy is not the same as actually prescribing a fast for obesity or treating bronchitis with vitamin C. Hiring a doctor requires an in-depth evaluation which only personal experience can provide. Word of mouth is a way to capitalize on others’ experience with this doctor. Ask around.

3. Make it easy for your doctor: Stay healthy. Eat right. Do not smoke. Avoid alcohol. No illegal drugs. Diet if you need to. Keep fit. Show that you take care of yourself. As you brush your teeth before visiting the dentist, present as healthy a body as possible when you visit the doctor.

4.Do your homework. Prepare your case before you go in for an office visit. Look up your ailment in the Merck Manual. You will there learn what the conventional medical approach to such an illness is. Then read up on the alternatives. I have reviewed 50 of the best natural health books at http://www.doctoryourself.com There is no substitute for being well informed.

5.If you need a diagnosis, get one. Be responsible. Use technology. Listen to what your doctor has to say, but do not DO it until you complete step 4, above.

6. Use the “suggestive selling” technique. Suggest a natural alternative to any medical treatment you may be offered. Or, instead of an either-or choice, suggest “both.” Know what you want and see that you get it.

7. Look at your situation from the doctor’s perspective. If you were legally bound and professionally constrained to the extent that most physicians are, how would you react to a know-it-all upstart patient that marched in to your office and began to dictate terms? To avoid a defensive physician, avoid backing your doctor into any corners. Instead, bring along materials written by other physicians who treat naturally. These may be in the form of journal papers, published treatment plans (protocols), excerpts from books, and highlighted articles. If such-and-such a doctor already does it successfully, it takes the pressure off your doctor in trying it with you. Ask for a “therapeutic trial.”

8. Try the “Good Cop, Bad Cop” approach: Offer to sign a paper stating that you will not sue the doctor if the natural treatment you request is not successful. At the same time, subtly point out that a patient could sue if the doctor refused a patient’s natural treatment request.

9. Half a pie is always better than none. Your doctor does not have to meet you 100% on every issue. It is generally sufficient to hear any of the following phrases, which commonly indicate an open-minded physician:

“Vitamins aren’t likely to do you any harm.”“I’ve heard of more and more people doing this.”“I attended a seminar on this recently.”“Let’s try it.”“Let me know how this works out for you.”“I told my other patients about it.”

10. Doctors love to be told that “their” therapy is successful. Provide your doctor with maximum positive feedback and, whenever appropriate, tell him/her that you are feeling great. You are likely to be rewarded with, “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it.” That is the sweet sound of self-reliant success.